At room temperature, bromine is a red, dense, volatile liquid. Its reactivity is intermediate between iodine and chlorine. In its liquid state, it constitutes a danger for human tissues. Its vapors cause throat and eye irritation.
In humans, bromine is found in trace amounts. It is considered an important chemical element although there is no exact knowledge of the functions it performs. Some of its components have been used to treat epilepsy and as sedatives.
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Electron configuration of bromine
To find the configuration, we read it on a diagonal from top to bottom. This technique is called the rain method or principle of construction. It starts from the lower energy sublevels up to the addition of the total number of electrons that the element has.
In a few words, to realize the Electron configuration of bromine, the Moeller diagram and the atomic number (Z) of the element are taken into account, in this case it is 35.
Abbreviated electron configuration of bromine
It is possible to abbreviate the Electron configuration using the noble gases argon, neon, radon and krypton. The following steps are followed:
- A search is made for the noble gas which precedes bromine.
- A change is made in the energy sublevels in which their exponents add the quantity of the atomic number of the noble gas by the bromine symbol.
The noble gas that precedes bromine is argon (Ar), its atomic number is 18. This means that the electron configuration of the nucleus or abbreviated configuration of this element is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁵
In this way, the Electron configuration of bromine specifies that there are 4 energy levels with 7 valence electrons.
Characteristics of Bromine
- Bromine was discovered in 1826 and began to be produced in significant quantities in 1860.
- Molecular bromine is obtained from brines, by the oxidation produced in the bromide with chlorine.
- Much of the bromine is found in the sea with the appearance of bromide.
- There are two isotopes in nature: 79Br and 81Br. Both have an abundance that is around 50%.
- Elemental bromine is highly toxic and breaks down into small pieces through inhalation and through the skin. It can cause immediate health problems, and in high doses it can lead to death. It is extremely irritating to the throat and eyes, causing painful burns on contact with the skin. Improper handling can result in a serious health risk.
Bromine applications
The industrial and chemical applications of bromine are varied and numerous. Organobromine compounds are distinguished, which are prepared with hydrogen bromide dissolved in an aqueous solution, also called hydrobromic acid, or diatomic bromine.
In the bromine test, bromine water is used for the purpose of detecting unsaturated organic compounds. Bromides act clinically as sedatives and silver bromide is used as a base element in photographic plates.